Shoe tongue and lacing holder



(No Model.)

W. P. PATTON. SHOE TONGUE AND LAOING HOLDER.

No. 537,934. Patented Apr. 23, 1895.

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ATENT FVILLIAM P. PATTON, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SHOE TONGUE AND LACING HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,934, dated April 23, 1895.

Application filed September 20, 1894- Serial No. 523,570. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. PATION, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improved Shoe Tongue and Lacing Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for the retention of shoe strings in a laced condition, and has for its objects, to provide a novel, simple, and inexpensive device of the character indicated, which will be adapted to hold the tongue of a shoe from twisting sidewise in use, and also serve to retain the shoe string of a shoe secured from untying.

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of refer ence indicate corresponding parts in all the views shown.

Figure 1, is a view in part of the top side of a shoe, and of the improvement in position on the shoe tongue, shown in connection with a tied shoe string on the shoe, and ready to receive adjustment for secu ring the bow-knot in the shoe string, to prevent it from unloosening. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the improvement showing one of the forms it may be given as to itscontour, while embodying essential features of the invention. in Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the improvement slightly modified in construction, but embodying the main features of novelty shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is an enlarged partly sectional top view of the form for the improvement shown in Fig. 2, taken on the line 5, 5, in Fig. 5. Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional view of the improvement as displayed in Figs. 2, and 4., taken on the line 6, 6, in Fig. 4., and secured by an eyelet on a shoe tongue. Fig. 6, is a top view of a portion of a shoe upper, a shoe tongue, a laced shoe string in a tied condition, and the improvement shaped as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, secured on the tongue and in closed adjustment, clamping the bow-knot of the shoe string. view of the tongue and lacing holder partly shown in Fig. 8, taken on theline 8, 8, in said figure. Fig. 8, is a transverse sectional view, of parts of the improved tongue and lacing holder, on the line 9, 9, in Fig. 7.

The improvement briefly considered, comprises a base piece in plate form, having means provided for its secure attachment on the tongue of a shoe, near the upper end of the latter, and a measurably elastic clamping frame that is hinged to the base piece, the latter having a rigid catch lip formed on it opposite the hinged joint of the two parts mentioned, which catch is adapted to engage and hold the slightly elastic frame when the latter is folded, the device when secured on a shoe tongue, being adapted to prevent a lateral twisting of the tongue, and also to clamp the bow-knot of a tied shoe string, thereby retaining the latter in a secured condition.

Referring to the drawings, 10, represents the base piece of the improved tongue and shoe string holder, said part being made of sheet metal cut and formed bysuitable means.

On the base piece at one side edge, a portion 10*, of the same is laterally prolonged and curved into scroll 0r loop form, to provide means for loosely connecting a clamping Fig. 7, is a transverse sectional 5o frame 11, with the base piece, as will be further explained. Opposite the scroll or loop 10, an integral catch lip 10, is produced. This lip is preferably shaped as shown, it being curved so as to render it concave on the side next to the scroll l0, and at the upper edge reversely bent slightly, thereby adapting the catch lip for effective service as will appear.

On the marginal portions of the base piece 10, each side of the scroll and catch lip, the string holding ears 10, are formed, these be ing produced in pairs oppositely.

The ears 10, are designed to receive portions of a shoe string between each pair of the same, and to this end are projected upwardly on the same side of the piece 10, that the scroll and lip are projections from, each pair of cars being sufiiciently spaced apart to permit the strands of the shoe string to be drawn into the gaps that intervene the pairs of ears, as is shown in Fig. 1.

The clamping frame 11, is preferably produced from a spiral coil of spring wire, and may be shaped substantially oval, marginally considered or in fact be given any available shape that fancy may dictate, it being mainly important that the frame shall be adapted for a convenient, cheap, and reliable hinged connection with the scroll piece 10, and that the resilient frame be so proportioned in dimen sions that it will encompass the ears 10, and have a spring latching engagement with the catch piece 10 when folded.

To facilitate the jointed attachment of the frame 11, with the base piece 10,a wire pintle is provided. The pintle may also be given such a length as will allow it to be curved as shown at 13 in Fig. 4, which will adapt it to afford support to the spiral coiled frame-and preserve its form.

As it is essential for the proper service of the tongue and string holder that the complete device be affixed on the tongue of the shoe, as shown, so as to lie between the flaps of the shoe Vent near the upper end of the tongue, and thus be adapted to receive the shoe string A, provision is made for the ready and reliable attachment of the base piece 10, on the tongue B, of a shoe 0.

The means for fastening the part 10, on the tongue B, may be an eyelet 15, that passes through a perforation made to receive it in the base piece near its center, and also is inserted through a perforation of the tongue at a proper point on the latter, the eyelet being then set or fastened by the usual means.

Another method for connecting the base piece 10, with the shoe tongue, consists in the provision of the integral V-shaped locking tangs 16, which may project oppositely from the ears on the base-piece, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, which tangs when inserted through the shoe tongue are to be folded on the lower side of the latter, as is indicated in Fig. 8, the connection of the base-piece and tongue by an eyelet being clearly represented in Fig. 5.

It will be seen, that to use the improvement for clamping the knot of a tied shoe string, the latter being laced as usual, and drawn so as to properly close the vent of the shoe, it is only necessary that the tongue B, be drawn into proper position, which will locate the improved device near the upper edge of the shoe, and between the edges of its vent. The drawn string is passed between the ears 10 of each pair of the same, and tied in a double bow'knot,-the latter being located near the center of the base-piece 10, between the pairs of cars, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that the clamping frame 11, is first folded away from the base-piece, as is represented in the same figure, and also in Figs. 2 and 3. After the knot is tied, the

clamping frame 11, is folded over the base piece, and pressed so as to cause its resilient body to yield and then interlock with the catch lip 10 as is represented in Figs. 6 and 7, which will effect a clamping pressure on the portions of the bow-knot and string out side of the ears 10", and bind the strands of the shoe string in the notches between the ears, so that a release of the bow-knot can only be effected by a detachment of the frame 11, from the catch lip. It will be evident that as the knot of the tied shoe string is located between the pairs of ears 10, said knot will hold the base piece 10, and tongue B, from moving laterally, which will effectually overcome the usual tendency for a shoe tongue to twist sidewise while the shoe is worn.

In order to release a tied shoe string, the wearer of the shoe simply grasps the looped projecting end portions of the bow-knot, and draws them up or away from the clamping frame, which movement will unlatch the frame, and permit the'ready untying of the knot by draft on the end of the shoe string as usual.

The degree of resilience afforded the frame 11 by its formation from coiled Wire, permits it to yield sufficiently where it has contact with the folded portions of the tied shoe string, to compensate for differences in bulk had by such parts of the shoe string, which feature is very essential to insure a proper retention of the bow-knot without regard to the thickness of the shoe laces.

The resilience conferred on the portion of the clamping frame that is adjacent to the catch lip 10, permits an assured, reliable connection to be easily and quickly produced, between the clamping frame and base-piece of the improved shoe string holder, which is an additional feature of advantage possessed by the improvement.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A shoe tongue and shoe string holder, comprising a base piece having a catch lip on one edge, a loop on the opposite edge, ears on each side of the lip, and loop, a resilient clamping frame hinged to the loop and adapted to engage the catch lip, and means for fastening the base piece on a shoe tongue, substantially as described.

2. A shoe tongue and shoe string holder comprising a base piece having a catch lip on one edge, aloop on the opposite edge, a clamping frame formed of a spiral wire coil and a pintle rod extending part way through the coil, leaving a portion of said coil unfilled opposite the catch lip, the pintle also completing a hingejoint between the clampling frame and base piece, substantially-as described.

3. A shoe tongue and shoe string holder, comprising a base piece having a catch lip on IIO one edge, a loop on the opposite edge, an oval clamping frame formed of a spiral wire coil and a curved pintle rod that gives form to the coil leaving" a portion of said coil resilient where it engages the catch lip, and two tangs or clinches integrally formed with the base piece, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of Septem- :0 her, 1894.

WVILLIAM P. PATTON.

Witnesses:

PERCY T. GRIFFITH, JOHN M. DEEMER. 

